We recently celebrated my son's first birthday on a 3-day river trip on the
Colorado River. The 27 mile float from Loma, CO to Westwater, UT is perfect for kids and great for parents alike. Having only been camping once prior to this trip, we weren't sure how the little man would do. However, water, sun, mud, sand and other kids proved to be the perfect recipe for a first birthday.
I had never before been on a river trip with kids, especially seven of them with none over the age of six. While I initially worried about how we'd
Leave No Trace with such a large group and so many kids, I quickly learned that kids simply "get it" when it comes the idea of
Leave No Trace. It became immediately clear that the parents (none of whom I'd been rafting with before) were all on the same page with regards to enjoying the river responsibly.
The collective reasoning was that it was simply "the right thing to do". The idea of
Leave No Trace is something that is best instilled early in life to ensure that it's just part of all outdoor experiences. I realize that it will be some time before my son really starts to understand why we go the extra mile to minimize our impacts on the landscape but it's never too early to lead by example.
We recently celebrated my son's first birthday on a 3-day river trip on the Colorado River. The 27 mile float from Loma, CO to Westwater, UT is perfect for kids and great for parents alike. Having only been camping once prior to this trip, we weren't sure how the little man would do. However, water, sun, mud, sand and other kids proved to be the perfect recipe for a first birthday. 
I had never before been on a river trip with kids, especially seven of them with none over the age of six. While I initially worried about how we'd Leave No Trace with such a large group and so many kids, I quickly learned that kids simply "get it" when it comes the idea of Leave No Trace. It became immediately clear that the parents (none of whom I'd been rafting with before) were all on the same page with regards to enjoying the river responsibly. 
The collective reasoning was that it was simply "the right thing to do". The idea of Leave No Trace is something that is best instilled early in life to ensure that it's just part of all outdoor experiences. I realize that it will be some time before my son really starts to understand why we go the extra mile to minimize our impacts on the landscape but it's never too early to lead by example.
Posts
2 comments:
So that's how you celebrate birthdays in Colorado. Sure beats a moon bounce and balloon animals!
The raft just wasn't big enough for the bouncy castle!
Post a Comment